Turkish Journey

*July 7, 2006

Breakfast and The Cook Top

Hi guys, how are you? Yesterday, I went to have breakfast with Mr. Sen and his family because they fear I am not eating enough. In order to get to his home I had to take the red mini bus. It has six passenger seats and is like a van but much smaller. First I had to locate the bus which took about 15 minutes because I had to walk to Carke street. Everyone was moving along quickly because it was 8:30am in the morning and they were on their way to work, so I didn't get too many stares. When I arrived at the mini bus stop I handed the man the paper where Mr. Sen lives and he shook his head to suggest that this is the correct bus. But before I found this bus, I saw another bus about 100 km away and stopped it. It was full of people but I only concentrated on the driver. I gave him the paper and he shook his head no and pointed straight, but someone in the back seat took the paper and said to walk 100 km straight and go right. I thanked him in Turkish and went on my way.

When I arrived at Mr. Sen's I had to let the guard at the gate know where I was going because he lives in a gated community, I think it is the only one in Adapazari. Mr. Sen and family were just waking up but food was on the table within 30 minutes. Oranges and grapefruits were cut on the plates, green and black olives, orange juice, white cheese and another type of cheese which tasted like mild cheddar, and toasted bread, fresh bread that arrived at their front door, watermelon, jam, eggs, tea, water and coffee. When dinner, oops I mean breakfast was over they took my plate and set down a clean one in front of me. I asked what is this for, they said to eat more fruit, I said YOK meaning enough, really I was so totally full I could not eat another bite. In fact, the only thing I ate yesterday at 3pm was some crackers with an orange soda, that was it for me yesterday.